Amalgamating apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' S. BEAR.

AMALGAMATING APPARATUS No. 807,082. r Patented Oct. 28, 1884.

WITNESSES: r INVBN OR ATTORNEY N. FETERi Phnto-Lilhognpher. Wish'lnllun.n. c

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2. S. BEAR.

AMALGAMATING APPARATUS. No. 307,082. PatentedQot. 28, 1884.

INVE TOR BY J ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Plmn-Lnm n mr, Wathinghw. D. I;

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WITNESSES (No Model.) w 3 SheetS Sheet 3.

.S- BEAR.

- AMALGAMATING APPARATUS. N0. 307,082. I Patented Oct. 28, 1884.

WITNESSES: INVBNTOR %Q/ Ji /M Jfiek ATTORNEY u PEYERS,Fbvlo-Llihcpnphar. Wnhinginn. 9. C

ilivrrnn STATES ATENT @FFICE.

SAMUEL BEAR, OF BROOKLYN, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO LEOSOHLESINGER, SIDNEY H. CARR, AND JACOB BLUMAUER, .ALL OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,082, dated October28, 1884.

Application filed February 20, 1884. (N0 model.)

To all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL BEAR, a citizen of the United States of NorthAmerica, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Amalgamating Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention is designed as an improvement on the amalgamating-tablefor which my application for Letters Patent of the United States wasfiled January 19, 1884.

The invention is intended to provide an improved apparatus foramalgamating gold and silver; and it consists-of certain improvements inthe construction or form of the table and its appurtenances, insubstituting another material for those before used in devices of thisnovel devices designed to facilitate and improve its operations, and toobtain better results therefrom, all of which will be hereinaf ter fullyset forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figuresland l are sectional side elevations of my improved apparatuswith parts broken away to exhibit other parts. Fig. 2 is a reduced planof the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the injector. Fig. 4is an enlarged crosssectional elevation on line a0 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isan enlarged cross-sectional elevation on line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is aside elevation of device shown in Fig. 5.

In the drawings, Arepresents my improved amalgamating-table lined withenameled iron, or constructed of iron and enameled on the inside withany well-known enameling compound that is designed to resist the actionof acids, and that is at the same time a poor conductor of electricity.This table may be constructed of enameled iron in flanged sections,comprising one or more riflies bolted together, or may be constructed inone piece. Cavities a for containing mercury, and having in them centraldepressions, a, for the accommodation of revolving stirrers, alternatewith elevated riffles b throughout the length of the table.

Amalgamating tables as ordinarily con structed and arranged cannot beeffectively worked in winter in the majority of our mining districts forlack of suitable means or methods for preventing the chilling of thewater and mercury used in the operation. To obviate this defect Iconstruct and arrange under the bottom of the table A a chamber, B, theshell of which may be constructed ofenameled iron, designed forcontaining hot water or steam applied through suitable pipes, c c, forheating the bottom of said table, and the water and mercury thereuponwhen the device is in operation. This chamber B may be made to extendnot only beneath the riffies, but also under thesluice-boxes that may beconnected with the table.

A necessary adjunct to an amalgamating table, an important part of acomplete amalgamating apparatus, consists of a device for mixing the oreand water together and deliv- 7o ering them upon the table, My improveddevice for accomplishing this consists of a cylindrical mixing-tank, O,supported on a suitable frame, O. A vertical shaft, D, carrying stirrers-D, is held centrally suspended in the 7 mixer C injournal-boxes d,which are fixed on the frame 0, and on said shaft D is keyed ahorizontal bevel-gear, D

On the extremes of a horizontal shaft, E, suitably journaled on frame 0,are secured, 8Q respectively, a pulley, E, and a bevel-gear, E Through abelt, E motion from a suitable source is transmitted to the pulley E,and through the beve1-gear Efithat gears with the bevel-gear l) to thestirrer-shaft D. 3

111 the bottom of the mixer G is inserted a pipe, (1, provided with plugor cook d" for drawing off the mixer contents when desired.

A chute, C is designed to deliver ore and water to the mixer C. One sideof said mixer 0 O is cut down, as shown at f, Fig. l, and at this pointa spout, f, is fixed, through which the ore and water that have beenagitated and thoroughly mixed by the stirrers D are discharged upon theheadof the table A. A water-tank, F, is fixed 011 suitable supports,

f over and across the mixer-spoutf, and said tank F is provided withvertical diaphragms f f, the former of which extends from about the topof said tank to near the bottom there- :00 of, leaving a space beneathit, and the latter of which reaches from the bottom of said tank to nearthe top thereof, so that the water entering from the water-pipe G intoone end of said tank is forced to pass first beneath the diaphragm f andthen up over the diaphragm f into the main body of said tank F, whenceit flows in a gentle and unagitated current through a spout, f, into thespout f of the mixer C and aids in conveying the ore therein to thetable A. The water-pipe G, provided with suitable valve, 9, and with abranch, G, that enters the bottom of the tank F, is designed to supplyto the latter a sufficient sup plementary amount of water for the propertreatment of the ore and for carryi ng it over the amalgamating-table A,and through the sluiceboxes and amalgam-collector. A valvedpipeconnection, a", between the pipe 0 and the water-pipe G, is designedto convey steam or hot water into the pipe G and its connections whenever desired, for the purpose of heating the water used in theamalgamating process.

Another portion of my improved apparatus consists of verticallyadjustable revolving brushes H, for distributing the ore under treatmentmore evenly over the table and for preventing its accumulation at anypoint, and at however slight an inclination the table may be adjusted,even if it be level, these brushes will operate to move the ore and.water from one end to the other thereof over the mercury. These brushesH may be located one over each riii'le of the table, or over alternateriflies, as may be desired. Each brush H is provided with a shaft, 71 onone end of which is a sprocket-wheel, H. The shaft of the first brush ofthe series, as shown in Fig. 2, is prolonged, and has on its extreme enda pulley, H, from which a belt, I passes over a pulley, LE, on the shaftE, and transmits motion to the first brush, and motion is transmitted tothe other brushes by a chain, H, that passes over the sprocketavheels H.011 the opposite sides of the table A plates J, with terminal offsets orlugs j, are secured by screws j. Standards J, having lugs j" on theirlower ends, and journal-boxes 7' on their upper ends, and havingvertical slots j, are held on and against these plates J by screw boltsj, that pass through said slots. Adj ustingscrews j pass up through thelugs on plates J into the lugs on standards J, so that on loosening thebolts j" and turning the screw j" the standards J, and thereby thebrushes H, can be raised or lowered at will, be adjusted according tothe inclination of the table A, and to the depth of ore thereon.

Another device which constitutes aportion of my improved amalgamatingapparatus consists of longitudinally-grooved rollers I, one of which issuspended in a horizontal position from hangers that are fixed on theinside of the table sides, in the mercury in each depression a, for thepurpose of keeping, by its revolutions, the said mercury in constantagitation, and its surface thereby bright and active for amalgamating.Each roller-shaft is provided with a pulley, i and motion is lugs ofwood or other suitablematerial,

and through copper plates 7;",that overlie said blocks. The devices foradjusting these anodes K are similar to those shown and described in myprevious application for a patent above alluded to, and consist of abedplate, Z, secured on a side of the table A, from which rise twostandards, Z, provided with vertical slots Z. A horizontal screw, m,provided with collars m, passing through a screw threaded nut, 71f,projecting upward from block 70, has its ends resting in these slots Z,so that by turning said screw m the connected anode K may be laterallyadjusted, the opposite lug, 75 of said anode K at the same time beingentered in a vertical slot of a standard, Z, that is fixed on theopposite side of the tableframe. Vertical adjustment of an anode, K, iseffected by means of upright screws an, that pass down through the lugZr, and have their points in contact with the plate Z, the slots Zpermitting this vertical adjustment. Brackets L, fixed on a side of thetable A, sup port the copper rod L, which extends alongside the table,and is designed to be connected with the positive pole of the battery orother source of electricity used when operating this device. In posts M,that are held on the rod L by binding-screws 0, the lower ends of thebranch rods L are held by screws 0,the other ends of said rods L beingheld by screws 0* in posts 0, that are set on the plates 76, so that thepositive electric current shall pass into anodes K, as set 'forth. Theangle-plates N serve as negative poles or cathodes of the bat tery orother source of electricity connected with the device, and each plate Nconsists of a copper plate bent at right angles and having in itsvertical leg a slot, 1 through which is passed into a branch rod, N, abrass or copper screw-bolt, 1), that holds said plate in position, asshown, so that by turning said bolt p the said plate N may be loosenedin position and be elevated or depressed in the mercury that is in thecavities a, and by withdrawing said bolt 19 the plate N may be easilyremoved to be cleaned to have the'amalgam that may have adhered to itscraped off. The negative electric current is conveyed from the batteryor other source of electricity through a copper rod, 0, that is held inthe eyes of the branch rods N", which enter through a side of the tableA, and are connected with the plates N by bolts 1), as set forth, sothat the negative current shall pass into said plates N.

In order to render the water used in the process a better conductor ofelectricity by the introduction therein of an acid, I construct anacid-box, I, of hard rubber or other suitable material, made,preferably, rectangular in shape, with grooves q in its bottom, andprovided with bottom discharge-pertorations, g. This box I is designedto be closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and to be provided with aconnecting-tube, Q2, for the introduction therein of the acid. One ofthese boxes is designed to be placed on each anode K, the box-grooves qfitting over and upon the anode-rods It, so that the box is held inplace.

Vhen the amalgamating process is in operation, strong or dilute acid, asthe case may be, is introduced into each box P through tube from somesuitable receptacle, which acid, dripping through the perforations qgradually into the water beneath as it flows between the anodes andmercury, aeidulates the water at the desired points where the action ofthe electric current should be most active.

Q, represents the screw for adjusting the in clination of the table A,to adapt it for working light or heavy ores.

At the lower end of the table A, and designed to be connected therewith,are arranged a series of V-shaped troughs, R It, designed for receivingthe discharge from the table A, and collecting the particles of gold,silver, and mercury therein.

At the lower or overflow end of the series of troughs R R, I arrange myimproved mercury and amalgam collector S, which is designed to catch andretain the minutest particles ot' the mercury and amalgam that mayescape from the troughs above. This colleetor S consists of a series ofconnected deep semicircular basins, 1', as shown in Fig. 1, set on aboutthe same inclination as the table A and troughs It It.

In the first of the basins It is fixed an apron, r, extending across thesame, and designed to receive the discharged material from the troughsIt.

Fixed across the upper edge of the collector S is a standard, T, havingan inclined face, on which is secured, by a strap-bolt, s, awaterinjector, U, that consists of several vertical pipes, 15, havingtheir lower or discharge ends somewhat flattened or fan-shaped, as shownin Fig. 3, and having their upper ends all entered at right angles intoa horizontal pipe, t, which is closed at one end. This injector U isconnected with a water-supply pipe, U, by a branch pipe, i as shown.

About the lower end of one of the pipes 15 is secured a bowl, U, havingan overhanging lip, as shown at o, and extending all across the basin r.The injector U being fixed in place, as shown, the bowl U is therebyheld beneath the lower edge of the apron 1-, so that the water, ore, andmercury flowing over the latter shall fall into said bowl. The nozzlesof the injector-pipes tare made fan-s haped, that they may deliver theinjected water more equally or evenly across the basin 1', and theyextend below the bowl U to near the bottom of said basin. 111 the secondbasin of the series a rifile, 10, extends across, and the extremedischarge end of the basin series is contracted, as shown at to, Fig. l,for the purpose of retarding to some degree the flow of materialtherefrom, so that the mercury and. amalgam may have more time tosubside.

Each basin r may be supplied with an injector, U, and bowl U", ifdesired, and aprons r and riflics w, as above indicated, may be placedin one or more of the basins.

\Vhen the amalgamating process is in operation, the ore yields up mostof its gold and silver to the mercury in the table A; but by the actionof the stirring-rollers I and the passage of the ore and water over thebaths of mercury some of the mercury and of theamalgain that has beenformed is floured or reduced to minute particles, which are carried bythe moving current of ore and water into the series of troughs, It,where most of the escaping amalgam and mercury, and also of the gold andsilver, which has escaped the action of the amalgamating-table, isdeposited by gravity and retained by the mercury in said troughs. Themoving current of ore and water,still carrying, possibly, a smallpercentage of gold, silver, mercury, and amalgam, then discharges uponthe apron r of the amalgamcollector S and falls into the bowl U, whichis designed to be submerged in water during the operation of the device.Theparticles of amalgam, mercury, and precious metals from theirsuperior gravity tend to settle to the bottom of the bowl U and toremain there while the residual gangue discharges over the lip of thesaid bowl into the bottom of the basin below. The injector U is all thistime in operation discharging water under suitable pressure into thebottom of the basin r, at such an angle that the residual gangue isviolently agitated and prevented from lodging in the basin, and theparticles of mercury and amalgam therein, if there be any, are washedclean and bright. The current then flows to the next succeeding basin,and, impinging against the riflie w, creates eddies, in which most ofthe remaining particles of mercury and amalgam will settle, and thencethe current flows through the last basin that is designed to retain thelast remaining particles of mercury and amalgam and discharges at themouth thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination,with an amalgamatingtable, of anore and water mixing tank provided with a discharge-opening and withsuitable stirrers, and mechanism for operating the same, and of asupplementary tank for containing a supply of water, said supplementarytank being provided with vertical diaphragms, all constructed andarranged substantially as set forth.

2. In an amalgamating apparatus, atank, F, located between themixing-tank and amalgamating-table, and provided with diaphragms f f,spoutf", and water and steam pipe eonneetions, all arrangedsubstantially as and for the purposes as set forth. 7

3. The combination, with brushes H and brushshafts h, of plates J,provided with lugs j, and slotted standards J, provided with lugs jandjournal-boxesj, screw-boltsj", and ad justing-screwsj", substantiallyas herein shown and described.

4. In an amalgan'iating apparatus, the combination, with theamalgamating-table, of 1ongitudinally -grooved rollers and verticallyadjustable revolving brushes, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

5. In an amalgamating apparatus, an adjustable anode constructedsubstantially as herein shown and described, consisting of copper tubesor rods bent in stirrup form, with their ends passing up through lugsand overlying copper plates, as set forth.

6. The combination, with an anode, K, of an acid-boy, P, substantiallyas herein shown and described, said box being supported by said anode,as set forth.

7. The combination, with the amalgamatingtable A and trough series It,of the an1alganreolleetor S, provided with apron 1" and riii'les 10,substantially as herein shown and described. a

S. The combination, with the water-injector U, ofabowl, U",substantially as herein shown and described.

9. The combination, with the amalgam-collector S, of inclined standardT, bolt 8, waterinjector U, water-supply pipe U, and bowl U, allarranged and operating substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my inventionIhave signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 16th day of February, 188-SAMUEL BEAR.

\Vitnesses:

JACOB .I. Sronnn, JOHN J. honours.

